R-2015-038 2015-02-23RESOLUTION NO. R2015-38
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pearland, Texas,
supporting equal representation of the Gulf Coast Water Authority
Board of Directors so that Brazoria County, Fort Bend County and
Galveston County each have balanced representation on the Board
of Directors.
WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast Water Authority traces its beginnings back to 1908
with the creation of the Cane and Rice Belt Irrigation Company and construction of a
pump station on the Brazos River. In the early 1930s, additional pump stations and
relift stations were added and extensions of the canal system were built running through
Brazoria County and reaching into Galveston County. Pump stations have been added
to three bayous in Brazoria County consisting of Chocolate Bayou, Mustang Bayou and
Halls Bayou; and
WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast Water Authority owns and operates the American,
Briscoe, and Juliff Canal Systems which includes 400 miles of main -line canals and
laterals, and about 400,000 ac -ft of water rights providing water for industry, agriculture,
and municipalities in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston Counties; and
WHEREAS, approximately 18,000 acres of commercial and hybrid seed rice are
irrigated annually in Brazoria and Galveston Counties as well as a rice research facility
located outside Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas which are world-wide technology leaders
for the rice industry; and
WHEREAS, Gulf Coast Water Authority provides water to municipal customers
consisting of Sugar Land, Pearland, and Missouri City as well as Ft. Bend WCID No. 2
and Pecan Grove M.U.D.; and
WHEREAS, Gulf Coast Water Authority provides water to industrial customers
consisting of INEOS Olefins and Polymers and Ascend Performance Materials, which
are located in Brazoria County; and
WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast Water Authority Board of Directors consists of nine
members. Each director is appointed for two-year terms with seven members
RESOLUTION NO. R2015-38
appointed by the Galveston County Commissioners Court, one member appointed by
the Brazoria County Commissioners Court, and one member appointed by the Fort
Bend County Commissioners Court; and
WHEREAS, residents of Brazoria County and Fort Bend County rely heavily
upon the water from Gulf Coast Water Authority in their livelihoods, i.e. farming industry
and industrial facilities, and for personal use, i.e. municipal supply of water to individual
residences and businesses located within the municipalities, and are entitled to equal
representation on said Board; and
WHEREAS, a balanced Board would encourage cooperation and equal
representation of all counties and its residents and prevent one county from making all
decisions for three counties; and now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Pearland hereby supports equal
representation of the Gulf Coast Water Authority Board of Directors so that Brazoria
County, Fort Bend County and Galveston County each have balanced representation
on the Board of Directors.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 23rd day of February, A.D., 2015.
_ � 1
ATTEST:
NGL•�;F�TRo'
Y SEC TARY
AP OVED AS TO FORM:
DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
TOM REID
MAYOR